Bruins working on cost-cutting trade after move on waivers

On Tuesday, Boston Bruins defenseman Anton Stralman cleared waivers and has been assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate Providence Bruins.

Now the Bruins are focusing on working hard to move a player on the NHL trade market, according to Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now.

Murphy believes the Bruins will pull off a trade in order to free up more cap space. With Stralman clearing waivers, the Bruins have just enough cap space to accommodate Derek Forbort, who is coming off long-term injured reserve.

However, Murphy got in touch with an NHL executive who reports that GM Don Sweeney was working the phones for a trade long before Stralman was placed on waivers and hinted at three players who could be the trade chips in Boston in defensemen Mike Reilly and Brandon Carlo and forward Craig Smith.

“Donny’s working hard to make room for Forbort and to gain any type of cap cushion he can going forward,” the NHL exec told Boston Hockey Now. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade in the next 48 hours.”

The trade candidates mentioned by Murphy are the usual suspects but one would free up some space on the Bruins’ tight cap. However, Reilly has already clearing waivers twice and Smith has struggled offensively since the start of the season.

This prompted Murphy to suggest Carlo, who has four seasons remaining on his contract after this season. However, many wonder why, after such a hot start, Sweeney would want to disrupt the team chemistry with a trade if Stralman being sent down leaves enough room for Forbort’s return?

What would you do if you were in Sweeney’s shoes?